Gemotions

The email notification chimed, a cheerful sound that immediately grated on Ethan's nerves. He opened it slowly, dread blossoming in his gut. The familiar words of denial flashed across the screen, and he felt a palpable shift within him. A feeling like a deflated balloon.

He leaned back in his chair, the plastic creaking under his weight. He looked at the half-finished model airplane on his desk, its fragile wings now representing his own shattered ambitions.

He pushed his chair away from the desk, not wanting to look at the work anymore. He found himself staring blankly at the wall, his mind a swirling vortex of unanswered questions and bitter disappointment. The silence of the room closed in on him.